The Navy SEAL drama starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch and Emile Hirsch earned $38.5 million in its first weekend in wide release, according to studio estimates Sunday. The Universal film directed by Peter Berg is based on Marcus Luttrell's memoir about a Navy SEAL team on a mission in Afghanistan.

The opening exceeded expectations and marked the second biggest opening in January after the $40.1 million debut of 2008's "Cloverfield."

Disney's "Frozen" stayed cool in the No. 2 spot in its eighth weekend, earning $15 million and bringing its domestic total to $317 million.

Paramount's controversial "The Wolf of Wall Street" scored No. 3 in its third weekend with $9 million for a total haul of $78.6 million.